title: Significance of galectins-1, -3, -4 and -7 in the progression of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of galectins-1, -3, -4, and -7 in 65 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and to correlate this expression with clinical (disease outcome, metastasis, and clinical stage) and morphological parameters (histological grade of malignancy). Clinical data were obtained from the patient records. The histological grading system of malignancy proposed by Bryne (1998) [9] was used for the analysis of morphological parameters. The results were analyzed statistically by χ(2) test (p < 0.05). Galectin-1 expression was observed in 87.7% of cases and was significantly correlated with metastasis (p = 0.033) and clinical stage (p = 0.016). Immunoexpression of galectin-3 was observed in 87.7% of cases and was correlated with the presence of metastasis (p = 0.033) and histological grade of malignancy (p = 0.031). Galectin-4 showed no significant correlation with any of the parameters studied. Expression of galectin-7 was observed in 73.8% of cases and was significantly correlated with the histological grade of malignancy (p = 0.005). In conclusion, the intense immunoexpression of galectins-1, -3, and -7 suggests the participation of these proteins in oral carcinogenesis and their use as markers of biological behavior and tumor progression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Department, State's University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pollianna M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Gustavo P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Godoy
authors.forename: Daliana Q
authors.initials: DQ
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Ana Miryam C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Lélia B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Ericka J D
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.forename: Marcelo G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Lélia M G
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Queiroz
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D037541:Galectin 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D037161:Galectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D014059:Tongue / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037483:Galectin 1; D037502:Galectin 3; D037541:Galectin 4; D037161:Galectins; C092525:LGALS7 protein, human